Open Communication Key To Protecting Children Online - CMCF CEO
KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama) -- Parents have been urged to champion open communication with their children and teenagers to help them navigate online risks safely.
Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF) chief executive officer Mediha Mahmood said today's younger generation is highly intelligent and capable of critical thinking, making engagement and dialogue more effective than the traditional "because I said so" approach.
"Simply telling children, 'You can't use this because I said so' rarely works. It didn't work for us when we were younger and it's even less effective with today's generation," she said on Bernama TV's programme titled “Digital Safety Starts at Home”, recently.
Elaborating, Mediha added that parents should continue to play an active role in preparing their children to navigate online spaces safely, as restrictions alone may not address all the challenges children face online.
"The worst thing you can do is shut off communication and tell them it's banned … because the worst thing that can happen is they explore things without you knowing, getting access to it outside the home and they're too scared to tell you when something happens," she added.
Mediha also stressed the importance of creating a safe environment at home so children feel comfortable approaching their parents if they encounter problems or make mistakes online.
She highlighted the availability of safety-by-design features and parental control tools on many digital platforms, which can help parents better protect their children.
"Technology should help parents by providing safety features and protections even when parents aren't physically present. The technology is there, and parents should make use of it," she said.
Mediha also cited initiatives by digital platforms aimed at helping parents better understand and utilise online safety tools.
Referring to TikTok's #ThinkTwice campaign, she said the initiative resonated with parents by providing practical guidance on navigating digital safety features.
"I absolutely love the campaign that TikTok is doing. That campaign really resonates with parents. Parents often feel very daunted. What this campaign does is actually sit the parents down and go step-by-step on how to use these tools," she said.
Mediha said such initiatives not only help educate communities but also create feedback channels that enable technology platforms to better understand parents' concerns and continuously improve their safety features.
-- BERNAMA
